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Original poster

Did 70s/80s dogs walk themselves?

228 replies

RamblingRam · 29/08/2020 11:29

I don't know if I just grew up in a rough area, I don't think I did, but when I was a kid it was common to see dogs wandering the streets either alone or in small groups, and very rarely on a lead. Does anyone else remember this it being like that? DH reckons I'm mixing up reality and old films but I'm sure it happened.

OP posts:
Cheeseybites · 29/08/2020 11:32

I remember this too! But in the early 90s. There were several neighbourhood dogs that i played with as a child, they'd always be roaming around by themselves and I'd stroke them and play catch with them. I wasn't in a rough area.

oldmotherriley · 29/08/2020 11:36

Yes, we had a dog (Manchester Council Estate 1960's) and like everyone else just opened the door and let it roam - it would often be away for hours. Nobody ever took their dog 'for a walk', and packs of dogs roamed the streets. Went back recently and everyone was walking their dogs on leads.

Tlollj · 29/08/2020 11:36

Yep don’t remember anyone having a dog walker either.

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TimeTruthandHearts · 29/08/2020 11:37

Yep. People just let them out Grin

Thisismytimetoshine · 29/08/2020 11:38

Yes, it was quite normal to see random dogs just wandering about.

hopeforlucky3 · 29/08/2020 11:40

I lived in a house surrounded by fields growing up. We had lab x collie. She used to take herself off on walks, even down to our local Main Street. We sadly lost her at 15yrs.

Soubriquet · 29/08/2020 11:40

Latch key dogs

Off they pop until dinner time

Fleamaker123 · 29/08/2020 11:41

Yes I remember in the 70's they were just let out to have a wander. We used to have a couple that used to turn up at the back kitchen door at my high school on the scrounge for food. Can you imagine that now! I don't think as many people had dogs back then though.

hopeforlucky3 · 29/08/2020 11:41

And this was the early 90s

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 29/08/2020 11:42

Never get 'dogs in the playground' anymore, either...

Mrsjayy · 29/08/2020 11:42

Yes doors opened and our they plodded our dog used to go and visit my gran crossing 3 roads 😀

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 29/08/2020 11:43

Definitely, late eighties East London, I lived with my best mate and her mum and they used to let their largish Lab cross out for a walk round the block, he’d have a wander and a good sniff and then come back home. They didn’t let their Jack Russell out alone though because ‘he couldn’t be trusted’ to be careful Shock

Original poster
RamblingRam · 29/08/2020 11:45

Oh I am so glad other people remember this too.
DH was adamant it has always been the law that dogs were walked on leads. It came up as part of a when we retire we can get a dog conversation.

OP posts:
zaphodbeeble · 29/08/2020 11:46

I remember dog licences too, all the local dogs used to wander about

BackforGood · 29/08/2020 11:48

No. I think this might be area dependent rather than decade dependent.

On the local facebook groups people often post blurry photos of dogs they've seen wandering about on their own, asking if anyone has lost their dog, and they do seem to be congregated in certain estates / areas rather than randomly across the whole area.

BarkandCheese · 29/08/2020 11:48

I lived opposite a pub which had a big old shaggy Heinz 57 dog which used to roam the local area.

DD’s school still get dogs in the playground from time to time, but that’s because it’s next to a park with only a hedge between their sports field and the park. Off lead dogs sometimes squeeze under the hedge and cause chaos.

Mrsjayy · 29/08/2020 11:48

You used to get dog licences im not sure what they were about probably pre microchipping.

notangelinajolie · 29/08/2020 11:48

Yes, I remember a horrible little yappy one that used to follow me home from school . I swear it used to sit in wait for me.

SunnySideDownBriefly · 29/08/2020 11:49

@LadyMonicaBaddingham

Never get 'dogs in the playground' anymore, either...
Oh my gosh! The excitement when there was a dog in the playground! Grin
Keyperfect · 29/08/2020 11:49

There were 3 or 4 regular dog visitors to our school playground at break times - 80s in Ireland. All happened to be quite big boisterous dogs who would chase/ jump on kids to try to get their lunches! I was very nervous of them. I seems so odd to me now that this was tolerated. It just didn't occur to anyone that this was not on. Can't imagine it happening now.

Thisismytimetoshine · 29/08/2020 11:49

@BackforGood

No. I think this might be area dependent rather than decade dependent.

On the local facebook groups people often post blurry photos of dogs they've seen wandering about on their own, asking if anyone has lost their dog, and they do seem to be congregated in certain estates / areas rather than randomly across the whole area.

It really wasn't area dependent.
Fleamaker123 · 29/08/2020 11:50

I remember if someone's dog had puppies they were just given away. They were just known as mongrels. Dog ownership is so commercialised and expensive now.

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 29/08/2020 11:51

It was the norm in our area too. How did it work when you first got a dog; did you get one of the neighbours' dogs to call for it in the morning for a few days and show it the ropes?

Mrsjayy · 29/08/2020 11:51

Yes, I remember a horrible little yappy one that used to follow me home from school . I swear it used to sit in wait for me.

That was probably ours he was an evil yapping rat dog

BingoGo · 29/08/2020 11:51

Jesus. That sounds like a nightmare, tbh. Shock
Glad things have changed

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